Monday, 31 May 2010

The Contest Director kept up a positive outlook throughout the day and kept weather man Nils on his toes checking the skies all day but finally had to abandon the creative tasks that had been set at around 16:00.

At the same time a well known official from the club was seen relying on more spititual techniques - we are not sure whether he was asking for the Contest Direct to see sense, the weather to improve or for his "Iron Thermal" to start.

Sunday, 30 May 2010

The Competition got off to a good start today with a task of 207km, in what could be described as a challenging wind. Most got round with the advantage going to experience, wingloading and span. Day results here:http://www.soaringspot.com/booker2010/results/

Saturday, 29 May 2010

An excellent day with cumulus as far as the eye could see and a cloudbase somewhere above 5000ft in parts.

The club task was Melton Mowbray - Graffham Water - Bicester and a group including mentor Tim Z3 completed this. Others explored different areas: Ben 580 went to Edgehill - Moreton in Marsh, Glen A9 did Husbands Bosworth - Chieveley, Jane 118 visited Pitsford - Bicester, and Glyn G1 went to Ludlow and back. A great day out. More of the same please.

Monday, 24 May 2010

Well after Saturday with our epic pilots racing round Bicester Didcot at gel coat blistering speeds, Sunday just produced a day of gel coat blistering temperatures.

After a sloowwww and easy start, a few pilots finally realised it was soarable and started launching, no one seamed to have trouble staying airborne but few ventured away. Full credit to Jan Clave who set off to do BIC-DID but decided that emulating the previous days pilots antics (no names mentioned) of flying down Oxford High Street at 800' was not a good idea so opted instead to avail himself of Bicester - good effort all the same.

The soarable conditions around Booker went on quite late and produced "one" cumulus cloud - but not even big enough to cast a full shadow over Booker - it did however produce 6 knots for Martin Kicks in the K21.

Sunday, 23 May 2010

After attending Jim's final cross-country briefing (preparing for competition flying) we briefly discussed task options for the day. Concensus was that chosen strategy for the day would be (a) don't be too ambitious and (b) keep together. So, with a forecast of climbs to 3500' lightly NE'ly and no cumulus expected we agreed an initial task - Booker Bridge - Buckingham - Chievley - Booker.

We rigged and gridded and waited for conditions to improve. The conditions didn't get any better but the sight of a Junior staying airborne for more than ten minutes was sufficient for us to launch.

Jon Gatfield (T6), Geoff Lyons (949), Steve Williams (JH), Shack Roberts (A9), Ollie Llewelyn (C30), Gary Nuttall (732) and possibly a few others eventually grouped up between High Wycombe and Booker Bridge and set off in the direction of Thame, just in case conditions didn't improve. The sky from Stokenchurch seemed to offer choices of (a) strong sink; (b) some sink; (c) more sink, so we all found ourselves ever lower as Thame Airfield beckoned. For 949 the lure was too much and Geoff landed there.

Fortunately around Thame a few thermals appeared and the gang limped on, after agreeing that maybe via Bicester would be worth the deviation. In fact changing the task to Bicester-Didcot seemed sensible too.

Between Thame and Bicester conditions were decidedly tricky with the odd 1/2 knotter being clung on to in order to avoid a field landing. C30, 732 and 314 struggled around Brill and eventually John Portwin in 314 landed in a field. C30 and 732, having all been in the same thermal managed to eventually gainenough height to push on to Bicester.

At Bicester conditions improved (= 1.5kt climbs) and there was a split with T6, A9 and JH heading North of Weston-On-The-Green whilst C30 and 732 opting to route back towards Thame after turning Bicester. The pack who went North and then South via Kindlington and Oxford High Street eventually made it around Didcot and home (congrats to all!) whilst C30 and 732 landed back at Thame (not for want of trying). Pete Wells in his Twister provided Gary and Ollie with an impromptu air display whilst they awaited the arrival of tug.

All in all a very challenging day that pushed many out of the comfort zone - flying in the blue, pushing on when low, gaggle flying - all skills well worthwhile continuing to develop. Good to enjoy a beer on the terrace later or go to the barbeque and enjoy watching Graham' Saw's aerobatics when he returned from his training at Bicester. Look forward to comparing traces!

Saturday, 8 May 2010

There was a good turn out on Friday to tidy up the trailer park and fill a few po-holes. Star turn was Jim White with his big tractor and mower. We have now discovered parts of the trailer park we did not know existed. John Herman lead the pot-holers and there are now areas of fresh soil at the entrance to the trailer park. p Please try to avoid driving over them until the grass is reestablished. Many thanks to all the members who mowed and strimmed. We finished off the evening with Chinese and beer.